EP0890500A2 - Kugelgelenkschutzklammer für Kraftfahrzeuglenkgestänge - Google Patents

Kugelgelenkschutzklammer für Kraftfahrzeuglenkgestänge Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0890500A2
EP0890500A2 EP98305535A EP98305535A EP0890500A2 EP 0890500 A2 EP0890500 A2 EP 0890500A2 EP 98305535 A EP98305535 A EP 98305535A EP 98305535 A EP98305535 A EP 98305535A EP 0890500 A2 EP0890500 A2 EP 0890500A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
clip
section
knuckle
planar mid
protective
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP98305535A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0890500A3 (de
EP0890500B1 (de
Inventor
Eric John Ridley
Douglas William Ivory
David John Richardson
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Ford Global Technologies LLC
Original Assignee
Ford Werke GmbH
Ford France SA
Ford Motor Co Ltd
Ford Motor Co
Ford Global Technologies LLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ford Werke GmbH, Ford France SA, Ford Motor Co Ltd, Ford Motor Co, Ford Global Technologies LLC filed Critical Ford Werke GmbH
Publication of EP0890500A2 publication Critical patent/EP0890500A2/de
Publication of EP0890500A3 publication Critical patent/EP0890500A3/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0890500B1 publication Critical patent/EP0890500B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
    • F16C11/00—Pivots; Pivotal connections
    • F16C11/04—Pivotal connections
    • F16C11/06—Ball-joints; Other joints having more than one degree of angular freedom, i.e. universal joints
    • F16C11/0619—Ball-joints; Other joints having more than one degree of angular freedom, i.e. universal joints the female part comprising a blind socket receiving the male part
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G7/00—Pivoted suspension arms; Accessories thereof
    • B60G7/005—Ball joints
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
    • B62D7/00—Steering linkage; Stub axles or their mountings
    • B62D7/16—Arrangement of linkage connections
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
    • F16C11/00—Pivots; Pivotal connections
    • F16C11/04—Pivotal connections
    • F16C11/06—Ball-joints; Other joints having more than one degree of angular freedom, i.e. universal joints
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G2200/00—Indexing codes relating to suspension types
    • B60G2200/10—Independent suspensions
    • B60G2200/14—Independent suspensions with lateral arms
    • B60G2200/142—Independent suspensions with lateral arms with a single lateral arm, e.g. MacPherson type
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G2204/00—Indexing codes related to suspensions per se or to auxiliary parts
    • B60G2204/10—Mounting of suspension elements
    • B60G2204/14—Mounting of suspension arms
    • B60G2204/143—Mounting of suspension arms on the vehicle body or chassis
    • B60G2204/1432—Mounting of suspension arms on the vehicle body or chassis by vertical bolts or studs
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G2204/00—Indexing codes related to suspensions per se or to auxiliary parts
    • B60G2204/10—Mounting of suspension elements
    • B60G2204/14—Mounting of suspension arms
    • B60G2204/148—Mounting of suspension arms on the unsprung part of the vehicle, e.g. wheel knuckle or rigid axle
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G2204/00—Indexing codes related to suspensions per se or to auxiliary parts
    • B60G2204/40—Auxiliary suspension parts; Adjustment of suspensions
    • B60G2204/416—Ball or spherical joints
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G2204/00—Indexing codes related to suspensions per se or to auxiliary parts
    • B60G2204/40—Auxiliary suspension parts; Adjustment of suspensions
    • B60G2204/43—Fittings, brackets or knuckles
    • B60G2204/4308—Protecting guards, e.g. for rigid axle damage protection
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G2204/00—Indexing codes related to suspensions per se or to auxiliary parts
    • B60G2204/40—Auxiliary suspension parts; Adjustment of suspensions
    • B60G2204/44—Centering or positioning means
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G2204/00—Indexing codes related to suspensions per se or to auxiliary parts
    • B60G2204/40—Auxiliary suspension parts; Adjustment of suspensions
    • B60G2204/44—Centering or positioning means
    • B60G2204/4404—Retainers for holding a fixing element, e.g. bushing, nut, bolt etc., until it is tightly fixed in position
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G2206/00—Indexing codes related to the manufacturing of suspensions: constructional features, the materials used, procedures or tools
    • B60G2206/01—Constructional features of suspension elements, e.g. arms, dampers, springs
    • B60G2206/10—Constructional features of arms
    • B60G2206/122—Constructional features of arms the arm having L-shape
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G2206/00—Indexing codes related to the manufacturing of suspensions: constructional features, the materials used, procedures or tools
    • B60G2206/01—Constructional features of suspension elements, e.g. arms, dampers, springs
    • B60G2206/50—Constructional features of wheel supports or knuckles, e.g. steering knuckles, spindle attachments
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
    • F16C2202/00—Solid materials defined by their properties
    • F16C2202/20—Thermal properties
    • F16C2202/24—Insulating
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
    • F16C2326/00—Articles relating to transporting
    • F16C2326/01—Parts of vehicles in general
    • F16C2326/05—Vehicle suspensions, e.g. bearings, pivots or connecting rods used therein
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
    • F16C2326/00—Articles relating to transporting
    • F16C2326/20—Land vehicles
    • F16C2326/24—Steering systems, e.g. steering rods or columns
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T403/00—Joints and connections
    • Y10T403/60—Biased catch or latch
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T403/00—Joints and connections
    • Y10T403/60—Biased catch or latch
    • Y10T403/606—Leaf spring

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a protective clip that may be affixed to a motor vehicle steering linkage ball joint, and in particular to a clip that presents a heat shield between a rubber sealing gaiter surrounding the ball joint and a brake disc, and that also covers over a slot in a steering knuckle above the joint.
  • a conventional steering and suspension mechanism for a motor vehicle has a track control arm which turns a front wheel.
  • the track control arm connects to a lower portion of a so-called knuckle which houses the wheel bearing and which also holds a disc brake.
  • An upper portion of the knuckle has a mount for a lower end of a suspension assembly, which is connected to the track arm by a rod.
  • the joint between the track control arm and the knuckle is conventionally a ball joint which permits relative up and down movement of the wheel and knuckle with respect to the track arm, and which also permits the turning movement of the wheel.
  • the ball joint conventionally has an upwardly facing socket, held at the end of the track arm, and a ball at the end of a downwardly projecting ball mounting shaft.
  • the ball mounting shaft may be either cylindrical or frusto-conical. In the latter case, the shaft will sit in a matching tapered bore in the lower portion of the knuckle, with the end of the shaft projecting through a hole and having a thread by which the ball and shaft may be tightened to the knuckle with a nut.
  • the knuckle has a straight bore intersected by a slot through the knuckle, and bolt is used to squeeze the knuckle slot, and hence straight bore, to fix the ball and shaft to the lower portion of the knuckle.
  • the knuckle slot is therefore above the ball joint.
  • the ball joint In order to keep the ball joint well lubricated, the ball joint is normally surrounded by a rubber gaiter that is packed with grease.
  • the bottom of the gaiter is affixed to a bottom part of the end of the track control arm, and the top of the gaiter makes a sliding contact seal with an underside of the knuckle around the shaft.
  • the knuckle will have affixed to it the disc of a disc brake assembly.
  • the spacing between the disc and the rubber gaiter has been reduced.
  • the heat radiated by a hot disc has resulted in an increasing problem with thermal degradation over time of the rubber material of the gaiter.
  • the present invention relates to the latter type of heat shield.
  • the orientation of conventional heat shields is set by crimping or bending a tab of metal into a slot or against some feature of the knuckle on a face of the knuckle away from the shield and disc assembly. This process is effective at orienting the shield, but requires several process steps on a production line, namely fitting the shield between the socket and ball, turning the shield until it is oriented with the disc, and then folding or crimping the tab into place.
  • the present invention provides a protective clip that may be affixed about a motor vehicle steering linkage ball joint, comprising: a planar mid-section with a hole therethrough through which a ball mounting shaft may pass; a heat shield extending transversely away from a first edge of the planar mid-section, and a steering knuckle engaging feature proximate a second edge of the planar mid-section opposite the first edge, the engaging feature being non-coplanar with the planar mid-section, characterised in that a spring clip extends from the second edge and is concave towards the planar mid-section.
  • transverse as used herein need not imply a perpendicular arrangement, but encompasses also any direction away from the plane of the mid-section.
  • the heat shield will most commonly extend transversely away on one side of the plane of the planar mid-section, with the spring clip being arranged on the other side of said plane.
  • the planar mid-section may be parallel with a face of the inside of the ball joint, such as a flat machined undersurface of the knuckle. Since the engaging feature is non-coplanar with the planar mid-section, it may be used to prevent rotation of the protective clip relative to the ball joint, for example engaging with a groove or a projection on a surface of the knuckle above the machined flat surface.
  • the protective clip may then be incorporated in a motor vehicle steering linkage, comprising a track control arm and a knuckle connected at a lower portion of the knuckle by a ball joint which is protected by a surrounding gaiter.
  • the ball joint may be of an otherwise conventional form, having an upwardly facing socket held at the end of the track control arm, and a ball at the end of a downwardly projecting ball mounting shaft, which passes through the hole in the planar mid-section of the clip.
  • the shaft may extend inside a bore through the lower portion of the knuckle and be fixed to the knuckle by means of a clamping slot intersecting the bore, also in a conventional manner.
  • the protective clip may then be affixed about the ball joint in such a way that the clip is oriented with respect to the knuckle by clipping the concave spring clip to a corresponding feature of the knuckle.
  • the corresponding feature may be a convex outer surface of the knuckle matching a concave surface of the clip.
  • a protective clip may be affixed and oriented with respect to a knuckle in a single process step, for example by press-fitting the clip over a matching feature of the knuckle, so placing the spring clip under tension, and so pulling the spring clip into positive engagement with the knuckle.
  • the engaging feature may be pulled into engagement with a corresponding locating feature of the knuckle by the spring bias provided by the clip.
  • the spring clip has a concave shape to oppose the planar mid-section.
  • a part of the knuckle may therefore be clipped between a part of the spring clip opposing the mid-section, and the planar mid-section itself.
  • the spring clip opposes the hole through the planar mid-section.
  • One way to achieve a suitable clipping arrangement is to have the spring clip curved into a partial loop towards the planar mid-section.
  • the engaging feature may be made to engage with a corresponding locating feature on the knuckle at the same time as the spring clip engages with the knuckle. Where the surface of the spring clip is concave towards the planar mid-section, the engaging feature may project from this concave surface.
  • One end of the engaging feature may be proximate the second edge of the planar mid-section, for example, at the junction between the planar mid-section and the spring clip.
  • the engaging feature is a strap bridging across the surface of the spring clip that is concave towards the planar mid-section.
  • the engaging feature may be similarly punched and formed from the sheet, for example in the form of an arch joining with the protective clip at the ends of the arch, a hole remaining in the protective clip from which the arch-like strap was formed.
  • a particular advantage of the invention is that the spring clip may be used to cover over, at least partially and preferably completely, the slot through the knuckle.
  • the spring clip may therefore serve the multiple purposes of providing a biasing force to initially align, with the engaging feature, the protective clip (and hence heat shield) with the knuckle, then to keep this alignment in place, while at the same time covering over a potential path through which corrosive water, salt, grit or other contaminants may reach the ball joint.
  • the engaging feature locates with the slot. It is therefore possible to have the protective clip locate with the knuckle, even if the knuckle was not initially designed with any special location features adapted to locate with an engaging feature.
  • the protective clip may therefore be retrofitted to vehicles already in use without any sort of protective clip.
  • the spring clip clips into an open end of the bore. It is therefore possible to have the spring clip locate in a sprung engagement with the knuckle, even if the knuckle was not initially designed with any special location features adapted to locate with a spring clip.
  • a steering assembly for a motor vehicle comprising a disc brake assembly and a motor vehicle steering linkage as described above, may therefore be provided with the heat shield of the protective clip being arranged between a disc of the disc brake assembly and the gaiter.
  • Figure 1 shows a conventional steering and suspension mechanism 1 for the front wheels of a motor vehicle.
  • the mechanism 1 shown is for the right front wheel which, while not illustrated, may be connected to the mechanism by four bolts 3.
  • the mechanism 1 has a disc brake assembly, of which the disc 5 is visible in the drawing.
  • each front wheel is turned by a track control arm 2 which connects to a so-called knuckle 6 at a lower portion 4 of the knuckle via a ball and socket joint 7.
  • the joint 7 is protected by a surrounding conventional rubber gaiter 11.
  • the knuckle lower portion 4 is drawn in Figure 2 cut away as indicated by a zigzag line 8 in order to show a protective clip 10 according to the invention.
  • the disc 5 and knuckle 6 in Figure 1 are drawn cut away to show a wheel bearing 12 and an upper portion 14 of the knuckle 6, which has a mount 16 for a lower end 18 of a suspension assembly 20.
  • the suspension assembly 20 is connected to the track control arm 2 by a rod 22.
  • Figures 3 to 6 show the protective clip 10 in more detail and Figure 7 illustrates how the clip is affixed about the ball and socket joint 7.
  • the clip 10 is formed from folded and punched sheet stainless steel, 0.5 mm thick.
  • a flat, planar middle portion or section 24 of the clip 10 has a circular hole 26 near the centre of the middle section.
  • a heat shield 28 extends downwards away from the plane of the mid-section.
  • a spring clip 34 extends upwards away from the plane of the mid-section.
  • the heat shield 28 and planar mid-section 24 are similar to those of known prior art protective clips 80,90,100, illustrated in Figures 8 to 10, which are respectively used to protect ball and socket joints of the type described above on the following models of motor cars: Ford 106, Ford 205, and Renault Laguna.
  • These prior art protective clips do not, however, have a spring clip, but rather each a tab 81,91,101, which extends upwards from a planar mid-section 82,92,102.
  • Each tab 81,91,101 is initially in the plane of the planar mid-section 82,92,102 when the protective clip is fitted to the ball and socket joint.
  • Each tab 81,91,101 is then bent upwards into engagement with a corresponding feature on a knuckle, such as a recess in the cases of the clips 81 and 91, or a flat surface on the knuckle, in the case the clip 100.
  • the prior art protective clips therefore must be fitted to the lower portion of a knuckle in a two-step operation: first by offering up the clip to an underside of the knuckle, and then after connection of a ball and socket joint to the knuckle, by bending or crimping the tab into engagement with a corresponding feature either on the underside or laterally facing side of the knuckle. If the bending or crimping operation is not properly carried out, the heat shield may not be correctly oriented with respect to a disc of a disc brake assembly.
  • the protective clip 10 of the present invention has a pre-formed spring clip 34 with a concave inner surface 35 which faces generally towards the planar mid-section 24.
  • An end 37 of the spring clip is curved or looped around above the planar mid-section, and has a protrusion 39 towards the hole 26 in the planar mid-section 24.
  • the protrusion has an upwardly directed lip 41.
  • the lip 41 is adapted to permit the spring clip 34 to ride up onto a convex outer surface 43 of the knuckle lower portion 4 so that the protective clip may be press-fitted in a horizontal direction to the knuckle.
  • the flat planar mid-section 24 then slides relative to a corresponding flat undersurface 47 of the knuckle lower portion 4, until the protrusion 39 at the end of the spring clip seats into a recess 45 in a face of the knuckle opposite the flat undersurface 47.
  • the recess 45 in the knuckle is an open end of a vertical bore 36 through the knuckle lower portion 4, the bore 36 being aligned with the hole 26 in the planar mid-section 24 when the protective clip 10 has been press-fitted to the knuckle lower portion 4.
  • the vertical bore 36 is intersected by a slot 38 lying in a vertical plane and has clearance for a stud 40, which is inserted into the open lower end of the bore 36 after the protective clip has been fitted to the knuckle lower portion 4.
  • Grease (not illustrated) protectively packs the gaiter 11, and also the slot 38.
  • the rubber gaiter 11 has an upwardly directed rim 51, which makes a sliding and sealing contact with a lower face 53 of the clip planar mid-section 24.
  • a bolt 44 is inserted through a horizontal bore 46 in the knuckle lower portion 4.
  • the horizontal bore 46 intersects the slot 38 and part of the vertical bore 36 so that the bolt 44 may seat against an annular groove 48 in the circumference of the stud 40.
  • the bolt 44 may then be tightened by means of a nut 50, so that the slot 38 is squeezed, which constricts the vertical bore 36 so gripping firmly the stud 40.
  • the slot 38 is not squeezed shut, but remains open along the convex outer surface 43 of the knuckle lower portion.
  • the protective clip 10 has a knuckle engaging feature 49 which is non-coplanar with the planar mid-section 24 and which is therefore adapted to locate with this open slot 38.
  • the slot 38 therefore serves as a corresponding clip location feature, as the protective clip 10 is press-fitted with the knuckle lower portion 4.
  • the knuckle engaging feature is a bridge or arch-like strap of metal that is formed during manufacture of the clip from a pair of parallel cuts punched into the sheet metal, the strap then being bent into a convex shape which projects away from the concave inner surface 35 of the spring clip 34.
  • One end of the bridge 49 is near the planar mid-section second edge 32.
  • the bridge 49 extends longitudinally in the same direction as the spring clip, and has a similar radius of curvature, so that the sheet metal of the bridge 39 is not significantly stretched and thinned, or shortened and thickened, during the manufacturing of the clip. This together with the feature of the bridge 39 being connected to the spring clip at both ends of the bridge, makes the bridge 39 a much more mechanically rigid knuckle engaging feature than the tabs 81, 91, 101 of the prior art protective clips 80, 90, 100.
  • the engagement also helps to ensure that there is a close fit between the concave surface 35 of the spring clip and the corresponding convex surface 43 of the knuckle lower portion 4. Therefore, although the knuckle lower portion may be splashed with, say salty water and road grit, this will not be able to run down the slot 38 and hence dislodge protective packing grease in the slot 38.
  • the spring clip therefore helps to protect the gaiter 11 and grease packed inside the gaiter, so that the gaiter lip 51 can continue to make a good sliding and sealing contact with the flat underside 53 of the protective clip mid-section 24.
  • the protective clip according to the invention may therefore be fitted quickly and conveniently to a knuckle lower portion about a motor vehicle steering linkage ball joint on a production line in an essentially one-step operation, with no need for further bending or crimping of metal in order to keep a heat shield in alignment with a brake disc.
  • the spring clip part of the protective clip provides a spring bias to help seat the clip on the knuckle lower portion, as well as to cover over a slot in the knuckle.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Steering-Linkage Mechanisms And Four-Wheel Steering (AREA)
  • Vehicle Body Suspensions (AREA)
  • Sealing Devices (AREA)
EP98305535A 1997-07-11 1998-07-10 Kugelgelenkschutzklammer für Kraftfahrzeuglenkgestänge Expired - Lifetime EP0890500B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9714519A GB2327234A (en) 1997-07-11 1997-07-11 Motor vehicle steering linkage ball joint protective clip
GB9714519 1997-11-07

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0890500A2 true EP0890500A2 (de) 1999-01-13
EP0890500A3 EP0890500A3 (de) 1999-07-14
EP0890500B1 EP0890500B1 (de) 2002-08-14

Family

ID=10815631

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP98305535A Expired - Lifetime EP0890500B1 (de) 1997-07-11 1998-07-10 Kugelgelenkschutzklammer für Kraftfahrzeuglenkgestänge

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US6095712A (de)
EP (1) EP0890500B1 (de)
DE (1) DE69807160T2 (de)
GB (1) GB2327234A (de)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2455740A (en) * 2007-12-20 2009-06-24 Nissan Motor Iberica Sa Heat shield for protecting a plastic part within the engine bay of a vehicle
US20100175491A1 (en) * 2007-08-09 2010-07-15 Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha Vehicular steering device
WO2014188102A1 (fr) * 2013-05-21 2014-11-27 Peugeot Citroën Automobiles SA Ensemble pour la protection thermique de rotules d'un vehicule automobile
WO2016087732A1 (fr) * 2014-12-03 2016-06-09 Peugeot Citroen Automobiles Sa Dispositif de protection d'une rotule de suspension comprenant une gouttière contre les ruissellements
FR3035927A1 (fr) * 2015-05-05 2016-11-11 Peugeot Citroen Automobiles Sa Dispositifs et procede de protection thermique de rotule
FR3036653A1 (fr) * 2015-06-01 2016-12-02 Peugeot Citroen Automobiles Sa Bras de suspension pare-chaleur et procede de fabrication
FR3144805A1 (fr) * 2023-01-05 2024-07-12 Psa Automobiles Sa Rotule sécurisée pour assembler une rotule de pivot dans un pivot de direction.

Families Citing this family (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE10052122C1 (de) * 2000-10-19 2002-08-14 Zf Lemfoerder Metallwaren Ag Kugelgelenk
EP1765652B1 (de) * 2004-07-05 2009-04-15 Renault s.a.s. Stützanordnung für ein kraftfahrzeugrad
US7648304B2 (en) * 2004-11-12 2010-01-19 Honda Motor Co., Ltd Shield for a vehicle suspension ball joint
FR2935452B1 (fr) * 2008-09-02 2011-05-06 Raymond A & Cie Protecteur de rotule de vehicule.
FR2983783B1 (fr) * 2011-12-07 2014-01-24 Peugeot Citroen Automobiles Sa Train arriere de vehicule muni d'un capot protecteur de chape
US9267557B2 (en) * 2011-12-13 2016-02-23 Akebono Brake Corporation Heat transfer preventer
DE102012213664A1 (de) * 2012-08-02 2014-02-06 Zf Friedrichshafen Ag Strebe
GB2518180B (en) * 2013-09-12 2016-05-11 Jaguar Land Rover Ltd Gaiter

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US4220418A (en) * 1978-05-16 1980-09-02 Toyota Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Suspension ball joint mounting mechanism
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US20100175491A1 (en) * 2007-08-09 2010-07-15 Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha Vehicular steering device
US8387742B2 (en) * 2007-08-09 2013-03-05 Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha Vehicular steering device
GB2455740A (en) * 2007-12-20 2009-06-24 Nissan Motor Iberica Sa Heat shield for protecting a plastic part within the engine bay of a vehicle
GB2455740B (en) * 2007-12-20 2012-06-13 Nissan Motor Iberica Sa Improvements in or relating to heat shields
WO2014188102A1 (fr) * 2013-05-21 2014-11-27 Peugeot Citroën Automobiles SA Ensemble pour la protection thermique de rotules d'un vehicule automobile
FR3005928A1 (fr) * 2013-05-21 2014-11-28 Peugeot Citroen Automobiles Sa Ensemble pour la protection thermique de rotules d'un vehicule automobile
WO2016087732A1 (fr) * 2014-12-03 2016-06-09 Peugeot Citroen Automobiles Sa Dispositif de protection d'une rotule de suspension comprenant une gouttière contre les ruissellements
FR3029582A1 (fr) * 2014-12-03 2016-06-10 Peugeot Citroen Automobiles Sa Dispositif de protection d’une rotule de suspension comprenant une gouttiere contre les ruissellements
RU2693598C2 (ru) * 2014-12-03 2019-07-03 Пежо Ситроен Отомобиль Са Защитное устройство для шарового шарнира подвески, содержащее желоб
FR3035927A1 (fr) * 2015-05-05 2016-11-11 Peugeot Citroen Automobiles Sa Dispositifs et procede de protection thermique de rotule
FR3036653A1 (fr) * 2015-06-01 2016-12-02 Peugeot Citroen Automobiles Sa Bras de suspension pare-chaleur et procede de fabrication
FR3144805A1 (fr) * 2023-01-05 2024-07-12 Psa Automobiles Sa Rotule sécurisée pour assembler une rotule de pivot dans un pivot de direction.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9714519D0 (en) 1997-09-17
EP0890500A3 (de) 1999-07-14
EP0890500B1 (de) 2002-08-14
DE69807160D1 (de) 2002-09-19
DE69807160T2 (de) 2002-12-12
US6095712A (en) 2000-08-01
GB2327234A (en) 1999-01-20

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